Trump Signs Executive Order Signaling Historic Shift

President Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, setting in motion a historic shift in educational authority from federal to state and local control that’s already facing legal challenges.

Quick Takes

Trump’s executive order aims to dissolve the Department of Education and return educational authority to states and local communities.
The order claims the department has spent over $3 trillion since 1979 with minimal improvement in student achievement.
The administration plans to cut the department’s staff by about 50 percent while preserving critical functions.
Congressional approval is required for full dismantling as the department was created by Congress in 1979.
The order prohibits federal education funds from supporting programs labeled as “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or promoting gender ideology.

Returning Education to Local Control

President Trump’s executive order to dissolve the Department of Education represents a fundamental reimagining of federal involvement in American education. The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.” This move aligns with long-standing conservative principles that education decisions should be made at the local level rather than by federal bureaucrats in Washington D.C. The Department of Education, established in 1979, has grown into what the administration describes as an entrenched bureaucracy that consumes resources without directly educating a single student.

The executive order maintains that this shift will empower parents, states, and communities to improve educational outcomes across America. According to White House data, the department has spent over $3 trillion since its creation, while national test scores show concerning results. Current statistics indicate low proficiency rates in math among fourth and eighth graders, highlighting what the administration sees as evidence of federal failure despite massive spending.

Legal Challenges and Implementation Hurdles

While the executive order represents a bold policy direction, the complete elimination of the Education Department faces significant hurdles. The department was created by an act of Congress in 1979, meaning its full dismantling would require congressional approval. The administration acknowledges this reality but is moving forward with actions within executive authority, including significant workforce reductions. According to reports, the Trump administration plans to cut approximately 50 percent of the department’s staff as an initial step. Critics argue this approach oversteps presidential authority, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it a “tyrannical power grab.”

The executive order specifically targets certain educational philosophies, prohibiting federal education funds from supporting programs labeled as “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or those promoting gender ideology. This provision reflects conservative concerns about ideological influence in education. Legal experts anticipate court challenges that could significantly delay or alter the implementation of the order’s most ambitious provisions.

Preserving Essential Functions

Despite the sweeping nature of the executive order, the administration has clarified that certain critical functions currently housed within the Department of Education would be preserved. These include management of student loans, administration of financial aid programs, and enforcement of civil rights in educational settings. The White House has specifically stated that responsibilities for Title I funding, which supports low-income students, Pell grants for college students, and funding for children with disabilities would continue. Federal education funding currently constitutes approximately 14% of public school budgets nationwide, with much of it targeted toward vulnerable student populations.

Supporters of the move, including parent advocacy groups like Parents Defending Education, have praised the decision as a necessary step toward returning education decisions to those closest to students. These advocates argue that federal control has led to one-size-fits-all approaches that fail to address the diverse needs of American students. The executive order represents a fulfillment of Trump’s campaign promise to reduce federal involvement in education and signals a potential sea change in how educational policy is developed and implemented across the United States, assuming it survives anticipated legal challenges.